Darren Port

Darren Port

CEO

Darren is the CEO and founder of Powered by Professionals. Under Darren’s leadership, PBP has started 13 charitable organizations in 17 years. In 2007 alone, Darren led a new charity – one of the first that he helped to create – to reach their fundraising goal of over $1 million. In 2011, PBP and the Sarcoma Foundation of America raised over $1.2 million dollars in conjunction with the SFA’s 10th Anniversary Fundraising Gala, which also marked the organization’s fourth consecutive year working with PBP. As of September 2017, PBP is thrilled to announce that we have raised donations totaling over $114 million for our clients.

With Darren’s guidance, countless community members have been able to rise up from devastation and work with PBP to channel their grief and compassion into sustainable and popular foundations that continue to make a difference everyday. Darren has 25 years experience in fundraising. In addition to PBP’s clients, he has successfully raised funds and coordinated events for organizations and companies such as the American Red Cross, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), Make A Wish Foundation, Webstakes.com and Entrepreneurs Organizations (EO) and served as a board member on the New York Chapter of JDRF for six years and was formerly on the board of EO. His areas of expertise include corporate sponsorship solicitations, membership development and public speaking. He has recently been solicited to speak to numerous corporations and organizations concerning the importance of philanthropy and charitable giving.

Darren has been an influential member of the JDRF since 1993. He was the Chair of the Long Island Walk in 1994 and 1995 and the same year started the JDRF Young Leadership Committee, which he ran for ten years. Darren was a member of the Board of Directors from 1996 – 1998 and 2001 – 2006. As the Vice President of Fundraising, Darren was an integral part of the team that raised over $8 million for JDRF.

An important aspect of fundraising and event planning is working with professional staff and volunteers. His experience as a volunteer in leadership positions provides him with an understanding and sensitivity to management and lay leadership.

In addition to his experience with charitable and event fundraising, Darren has nine years of professional experience in sales and marketing, while with the New York Law Publishing Company as the National Sales Manager and with Promotions.com as a Vice President of Sales. He was also responsible for building, training and managing sales teams.

Darren holds a B.S. in Marketing from the University of Maryland, and resides with his wife Jill and their daughters Erika and Gabrielle in New Jersey. He is an avid sports fan and competitor as proven by his completion of eight New York City Marathons as well as the Lake Placid Ironman Triathlon.